I saw a woman in her late 50s driving around in a black VW Phaeton W12 today - I think these are really nice, what does everyone else think?
For about 100 grand you get a 420 HP 6.0L 12 cylinder engine, AWD, your choice of wood interiors (Chestnut, Myrtle, Walnut or Eucalyptus), massaging seats with A/C ventilation, keyless access etc....

 

That would have been a nice $45k VW if they had skipped the W12 and stuck with a V8. Going to be very interesting to see the sales figures for a $100K VW -- that is beyond Audi's range and without the prestige label or the dealer organization.

 

There is a V8 model that starts at around $65K. VW says the Phaeton is intended to boost brand image more than sales. They expect to sell around 4,000 in the US annualy, 15,000 globally. First year sales in Europe were far short of expectations however. It competes against the BMW 7-series, Merc S-class, and Lexus LS430, and VW markets it as an automobile for people who have attained success on their own terms, and doing things their own way. Phaeton ambassadors sell the car at dealerships. The first group of US buyers got trips to the famous plant in Dresden, Germany where the car is produced, known as the "transparent factory." It is so quiet the local opera company uses it to stage performances. Workers wear white lab coats instead of hard hats and goggles.
"The idea of being conventional always seemed so sad to me."
-VW promotional film

 

I got to play around in one at an auto show a little while ago.

The interior is amazing on this car. The legroom in the back is more than you will ever need. The side windows have built in sun/privacy shades. There are four zone climate controls (once for each passenger).

From the pictures, I thought the exterior was way to bland. In person it is much better. It still may be understated, but is quite handsome in the flesh.

I have never driven a full size luxury car, so I cannot comment on how it feels on the road. However, if I were going to drop that kind of cash on a car I would probably go with a BMW or a Merc or a Lexus. But I could be swayed by a test drive.

 

I hope the VW dealership "ambassadors" have a few other duties -- I think there will be a lot of staring out the window waiting for people in the market for a $100k car to come wandering into the VW dealership. Let's see: corporate CEO's, Sports stars, Hollywood celebs, etc. -- yeah VW is always top of mind for these types -- going to go right past the Merc, Bentley, Jag dealerships -- and then past the VW passats and Beetles to ask the "ambassador" about the new VW for the jet set -- should be fun to watch.

p.s. I did sit in one at the Detroit Auto show -- impressive quality -- but not a $100,000 vehicle IMHO

 

My $100,000 (if I had such a thing) would DEFINITELY NOT go for a VW -- no matter how nice it is. There are lots more cars I'd buy over a VW. What were they thinking?

 

yeah, no "people's car" should cost $100,000. it's ridiculous. i don't like it

 

you do have to admit though, it's an extrodinary car (especially the wooooooood triiiiim... *gargle*)... maybe the branding is wrong though. it probably would sell better with the Union rings on the front, wouldn't it (as a car superceding the A8)??

 

I heard it drives like a tank?????????

 

It's still a Volkswagen and beeing a V12 that just means it will break down twice as much as their 6 cylinders, 3 times more than their 4 cylinders and a 3/4 times more than their 8 cyliniders.

Drives like a tank? It IS a tank, isn't it?

 

car and driver did a test with 10 cars in this price range, the phaeton being one. i think it came in like 7th or 8th. i forgot who first was. it was either a benz or lexus.

 

1st- Lexus LS 430
2nd- Jaguar XJ8
3rd- BMW 5 Series
4th - Audi A8
5th - VW Phaeton
6th - Benz S430

The Phaeton got one of the worst reviews ive ever read in my life.

 

 

That's BMW 7 series in 3rd place, not 5.

 

oh yeah, ooops

 

LMAO, what are you doing?

 

eh, i wasnt too far off

 

Love the car and I have owned several VW's but if I have 100K to put into a car I ain't buying a VW--for me NSX, Viper (and I'd have 20K left to buy a beater), Benz or Maserati. To quote someone I know who has a stake in VW's future, "It takes an awefully small ego to buy a 100K Volkswagen" and most people who spend that kind of coin on a car have rather large egos.

 

One of my clients is the GM at the local VW dealership, so I got to put it to the ultimate Baller test.

This is some machine, you must be however open-minded about the large VW emblem and forget that it is a VW.
This car was the W-12 engine (rare) and under $100,000.
The paint was the best I had seen on a production car, the interior puts BMW's 760 to shame with it's wonderful fit and finish and easy to use controls.
The engine makes all the right sounds and propels this heavy machine with ease. The ride is on the soft side for my taste but I could live with it easy.

Summary: Perhaps the nicest ride on the planet, the ultimate in understated elegance. A car for the confident person that does not need a star or a propeller on the hood to impress. I really love this car.

 

Where is it made? i still cant get rid of VW's image for some reasons... the look is okay, the interior is cool, kind of like the VW's SUV...but still, it's a VW... i would go for Maserati instead, A8 would be a good choice too.

 

TANK

 

That's exactly right, that's what really struck me when I saw it on the street. Incredibly thick looking glossy black paint job.

 

Dresden, Germany

 

You're way off man, 0-60 in 6 seconds, 1/4 mile in 13.9. And this is a luxury full-size sedan, not sportscar.

 

A base Phaeton 4.2 W8 costs $65k - nicely equipped it is $73k.

A base Audi A8 L is $68k - nicely (similarly) equipped it is $73k.

One minor difference - the Audi is all aluminium and weighs 800lbs less than the all-steel 5200lb VW. You can deduce the difference in acceleration, handling and braking for yourself.

The Phaeton at $73k has less features and quality/materials/finish than a $69k LS430 Ultra Lux - and the gadgets in the LS will last 5-10 years. I doubt the technology in the Phaeton will last 5-10 months without breaking down (every review I've seen mentioned electronic gremlins in brand new cars).

In the FIRST TWO MONTHS on sale the figures for the Phaeton are half of what was expected - no waiting lists for this baby. The Phaeton was a disaster in Europe - it will be even worse in America. The W8 should cost $50k fully loaded or VW should spend a few billion on a network of luxury dealerships (like Lexus, Acura and Infiniti did) to be taken seriously. The W12 (not as smooth as a V12) is an even worse bargain.